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Monday, December 15, 2008

When Rep. Jeff Wood left the Republican Party because he claimed party leaders were retaliating against him for showing too much independence, turns out it may have been the marijuana making him paranoid.

Rep. Jeffrey Wood, who in November became the first independent in decades elected to the Legislature, was arrested early Friday by the Wisconsin State Patrol.

A deputy at the Columbia County Jail said Wood was booked on charges of operating while intoxicated-first offense and possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Wood was booked at about 3 a.m. and released by about 9 a.m., when he posted $200 bond. He is to appear in court next month.

The state patrol did not immediately release details on what led to Wood's arrest in south central Wisconsin, far from the northwestern district he represents.

"There is no excuse for my actions, and I accept full responsibility," Wood said in a statement. "This is not typical behavior for me, but unfortunately I drank too much and exercised very poor judgment."

Was he too drunk to throw the drugs out the window, or was that just poor judgement? By accepting full responsibility, does that mean he will plead guilty? Will he resign? Or is this like any other politician accepting "full responsibility"?